Credit union robber sentenced to more than 5 years in federal prison

BANGOR, Maine — The man who admitted robbing a downtown credit union on May 25, 2011, was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court to five years and three months in federal prison.

U.S. District Judge John Woodcock also sentenced Thaddeus Peter McDonald, 33, of Augusta to three years of supervised release after he completes his prison term.

McDonald was indicted in July by a federal grand jury in Bangor in connection with a robbery at the Penobscot County Federal Credit Union, the entrance to which is located at the lower level of the Merchants Plaza building.

McDonald admitted that he robbed the credit union of $6,360, according to the prosecution version of events to which he pleaded guilty. The money appears to have been recovered since he was not ordered to pay restitution.

He had been held without bail since his arrest the same day of the robbery. McDonald was charged July 7 by federal authorities after originally being charged in state court.

He told Bangor detectives that he committed the crime on impulse after recent traumas in his life, including the death of his wife and the loss of his children, and out of desperation.

McDonald did not use a gun and did not threaten violence, according to documents filed in federal court. He told Bangor police that he is on probation for aggravated forgery and has convictions on his record for burglary and statutory rape.

Affidavits filed by several Bangor police officers explained how McDonald used some of the cash to first secure a room at the Charles Inn and then hired a driver with Town Taxi for a more than $200 ride to Augusta. Based on information from a witness, police stopped the taxi near mile marker 180 on southbound Interstate 95 and apprehended McDonald without incident.

McDonald faced up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,00. Under the prevailing federal sentencing guidelines, the recommended sentence was between five years and three months and 6½ years in prison.